The Garden of Unearthly Delights is making a grand return today to Rundle Park / Kadlitpina for a six-week season of art, food and nightlife all in the heart of the East End.
The year’s program features more than 115 shows, including an impressive 23 world premieres and 39 South Australian premieres, making it one of the most exciting Garden lineups to date. And with it returning a week before the rest of the action, this will be your one-stop shop this week to get an early taste of all the Fringe action.
Known as a favourite spot for outdoor performances, this year The Garden’s mix is as eclectic as ever. Audiences can expect everything from circus, cabaret and comedy, to magic, theatre, music and family-friendly entertainment. Attendees will get a chance to see international performers alongside the next wave of exciting new talent, all in a space designed for adventure.
The Garden will also continue to lead the way in accessibility and inclusivity. A strong focus on free entertainment and community programming is making sure the space remains welcoming for everyone.
Image: Leighton Pearce
Food takes centre stage in 2026, with the line-up curated by South Australian chef Duncan Welgemoed of Africola. This will be a chance to try some of the state’s best produce, with everything from seafood, dumplings, and pizza, to festival food classics that you know and love.
New venues also join the fun with The Criterion and The Paragon. Plus, with a reputation backed by more than 70 five-star reviews in 2025, The Garden of Unearthly Delights continues to prove why it’s the crown jewel of the Adelaide Fringe.
Check it all out from February 13th at Rundle Park / Kadlitpina!
Looking for a show? Here are a few top picks in The Garden this season!
The Sumo Show HIRAKUZA
Sumo power hits Australia for the first time with The Sumo Show HIRAKUZA, performing exclusively in Adelaide at The Garden of Unearthly Delights from February 13th to March 22nd. Direct from Osaka, Japan, this high-energy theatrical spectacle features former professional sumo wrestlers bringing Japan’s national sport to life through explosive matches, humour, and culture. Presented entirely in English, the show combines elite athleticism with showstopping production, immersive sound and dramatic lighting.
For more information, click here.
Wish You Were Mine
Australian media favourite, Brian Nankervis (RocKwiz), will premiere Wish You Were Mine, a live music and storytelling show where guest artists perform songs they wish they had written alongside the mighty RocKwiz Orkestra. Across three nights, the series brings together artists from across genres and generations, united by their love of great songwriting and the joy of live performance. Performers include Beccy Cole and Kevin Mitchell (Bob Evans, Jebediah), NIMA Artist of the Year 2025 Emily Wurramara and Joe Camilleri (The Black Sorrows, Falcons) and Vika & Linda Bull.
For more information, click here.
La Ronde
Back for its second season with four new cast members, the five-star hit La Ronde is promising a bolder, wilder, and more unmissable show than ever. This will be a dizzying spectacle of glittering bodies, provocative energy, and raw talent straight from the world’s most elite stages.
For more information, click here.
The Garden Feasts
The Garden Feasts will once again be a highlight of the 2026 season. Shining the spotlight on Australia’s cultural landscape, these three special long-table dinners under the stars will focus on different cuisines and feature a spectacular line up of chefs, including George Calombaris with The Greek Table Monday, February 23rd, Matt Stone and Enrico Sgarbossa with La Dolce Tavola, Monday, March 2nd, and Annita Potter with Thai Spice Market, Monday, March 16th, who will each be joined by captivating MCs and spectacular live performances.
For more information, click here.
A Stan is Born
A hit at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, A Stan is Born is a cabaret of colour and songs. Performer Alexis is trapped in a conservative culture clash, and discovering pop divas online is his only salvation. From Céline, Whitney, Mariah, Beyoncé, Aretha, you name them, he’s got them. With 10 original songs, sung and played live on keyboard, Alexis shares the queer joy in becoming a stan.
For more information, click here.
The GRATS
For two nights only, a powerhouse blend of wit, music, and sore fingers comed together with The Grats. They’re the cream of Australia’s musical comedy scene with Gatesy from Tripod, Andrew Hansen from The Chaser, Rusty Berther from Scared Weird Little Guys, Sammy J from Sammy J and Randy, and Tom Gleeson. Together, they form a one-of-a-kind collective that celebrates sharp satire, harmony and hilarity in equal measure.
For more information, click here.
Tom Gleeson – Out of Touch
Hard Quiz and Taskmaster Australia host, Tom Gleeson, returns with a brand-new show, Tom Gleeson – Out of Touch. The gold-plated comedy superstar is hosting ratings smashes and filling theatres across the country. He’s played rowdy RSLs and filled the Sydney Opera House, but Adelaide Fringe is his favourite time of year. On ABC-TV’s The Weekly, Tom’s segment Hard Chat begat his own show Hard Quiz, which not only blitzes the ratings as it enters its eleventh season, but also earned Tom Australian television’s gong of gongs – the Gold Logie, which rubs against his 5 AACTAs on his very crowded trophy shelf.
For more information, click here.
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Fringe doesn’t offically start until February 20th, but if you’re keen to get in on all the action a week early, the Garden is your ultimate spot! Check out all the shows here.
